The metal nails that fastened the wooden components of a 2400 year old ship found along the coast of kippuz Ma'agan Mikhael, Israel, were made of unalloyed copper that was intensively hammered. A lead isotope analysis of one nail indicates with high probability that it was made of copper that was mined in northwest Cyprus. The copper of the nails in the wood was replaced entirely by copper sulfide mineral, displaying the occurrence of deep anaerobic conditions in a breaker zone under a shallow cover of sand. The slow decay of the cellulose and hemicellulose in the wood is a possible explanation for the specific necessary environmental conditions. It was concluded that these nails were directly inserted into the wood without any woodenplug treenails. They were deliberately made of copper instead of bronze or iron, widely known and used during the Persian period, to be strong enough to fasten the frames to the ship's hall while not being too brittle and resisting the cutting pressures on the structure in motion.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Nails from a 2400 year old shipwreck: A study of copper in a marine archaeological environment


    Additional title:

    Kupfernägel aus einem 2400 Jahre alten Schiffswrack. Eine archäologische Untersuchung von Kupfer in einer marinen Umgebung


    Contributors:
    Shalev, S. (author) / Kahanov, Y. (author) / Doherty, C. (author)


    Publication date :

    1999


    Size :

    4 Seiten, 11 Bilder




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English




    Nr. 2400

    DataCite | 1891


    2400 Quadratmeter pro Person

    Cesari, Ilaria | Online Contents | 2016


    Piste d'envol de 2400 metres

    Engineering Index Backfile | 1956


    Schiffsdieselmotor nach 2400 h Laufzeit

    Schlosser,H. | Automotive engineering | 1982


    Moderne Plastik : Citroe͏̈n CX 2400

    Bethscheider-Kieser, Ulrich | SLUB | 1998